Electrical fire in 1998 Forester?

[julie]

about two months ago my 98 forester was burned out on the inner drive
side (while the car was off and parked). The entire inner door pane
was melted away as well the driver seat and and underneath the steerin
wheel. It's been sitting at the dealership for a month and a half no
and Subaru refuses to fix it because they say it would cost more tha
the blue book price of the car. Just wondering if anyone else has ha
electrical problems with their early Foresters (we've always had fus
problems with ours since the day we bought it), or if anyone has an
good advice to getting Subaru of America to help us foot the bill o
another used Forester. Thanks

 

[Ed P]

about two months ago my 98 forester was burned out on the inner driver
side (while the car was off and parked). The entire inner door panel
was melted away as well the driver seat and and underneath the steering
wheel. It's been sitting at the dealership for a month and a half now
and Subaru refuses to fix it because they say it would cost more than
the blue book price of the car. Just wondering if anyone else has had
electrical problems with their early Foresters (we've always had fuse
problems with ours since the day we bought it), or if anyone has any
good advice to getting Subaru of America to help us foot the bill on
another used Forester. Thanks.

Since your Forester is a '98, it is beyond its basic bumper-to-bumper
warranty. Do you have a service contract on the car? Otherwise, I
would imagine that your claim would be with your own insurance plan's
comprehensive coverage, if you have it.

You might check http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/home.cfm for any
complaints/problems similar to yours and file a report on your car. If
it turns out that there is a pattern of a safety-related defect, then
there may eventually be a recall. If there is one, you may be able to
get reimbursement under the recall.

Incidentally, did the car have any recent repairs to the door where the
fire started?

Ed P

 

[Edward Hayes]

Subaru is responsible for your 7 year old car? I think not but, your
auto insurance company will help out depending on your deductible. If
it truly is totaled then your insurance company should pay you its
market value I think.

 

[kstahl]

Subaru is responsible for your 7 year old car? I think not but, your
auto insurance company will help out depending on your deductible. If
it truly is totaled then your insurance company should pay you its
market value I think.

Why do people always use the phrase "I think not"? It only
proves that the person who uses it is stating something that
is obviously true to any listener.

And yes, I did get out of the wrong side of the bed this
morning.

 

[Bryce]

Maybe he can write a letter to Subaru of Japan and get some action!

he he he.

 

[julie]

I don't have fire on my insurance policy, but I'll try and call and se
if there is something they can do anyway. I thought that maybe Subar
would feel somewhat responsible since it was obviously a fault on th
electrics in the car itself (seeing that the car was off when the fir
happened). It also happened about half an hour after my six year ol
and I parked and got out. If the fire had started when we were in th
car I don't even know what would have happened becasue the doors wer
sealed shut due to the melted plastic. I guess no one has had problem
with the fuses or electrics in their subarus which is really what I wa
trying to find out. Thanks for the advice tho. Sorry about the whol
wrong side of the bed thing.

 

[jb]

<snip>

Hit up your insurance company. It's not a fire, it's an electrical fault.
If you can prove an electrical fault existed while the car was still under
factory warranty, you have a good chance of winning in court, if you're
willing to take it that far.

Else, rip the motor, gearbox, running gear, everything mechanical you can
salvage including back seat and the other doors, you'll make more money
selling it as parts than you would ever get selling it as damaged.

-mark